No Fuel for Old Cars! Delhi Bans Refueling for 15+ Year-Old Vehicles After March 31

In a major step to curb pollution, the Delhi government has announced that vehicles older than 15 years will no longer be able to refuel at petrol pumps after March 31, 2025. The decision was confirmed by Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa following high-level discussions on tackling air pollution in the national capital.

Sirsa criticized the previous government for not utilizing allocated funds to address environmental concerns and emphasized the urgent need for action. "Pollution in Delhi stems from three key sources-dust, vehicular emissions, and construction activities. While we cannot control vehicles entering the city from outside, we have decided to stop providing fuel to vehicles over 15 years old," he stated. A dedicated team will be deployed to identify such vehicles.

The government is also engaging Delhi University students in a large-scale plantation drive to enhance green cover. Additionally, high-rise buildings, hotels, commercial complexes, and Delhi Airport will soon be required to install smog guns to minimize pollution. Industrial units contributing to air pollution will be directed to implement real-time monitoring systems.

To further address pollution concerns, Sirsa revealed that the government will seek permission for cloud seeding to artificially induce rainfall whenever pollution levels become severe.

Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category on Saturday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 126, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.